The fifth session of the judicial reform group of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) was held on Dec 28, during which reports were given on the judicial work of 2018 and requirements for next year.

At the meeting, work reports on judicial reform work in 2018, promotion of trial-centered criminal procedure reform, achievements of judicial work of domestic-related cases and jurisdiction of cross-region administrative cases were delivered by related judicial staffs.

Zhou Qiang, chief justice and president of the SPC, affirmed that courts have advanced judicial reform, implemented judicial accountability and improved the structure of courts and judicial personnel management this year.

Meanwhile, criminal procedures reform, judicial transparency and the upgrading of smart courts have also been promoted, giving people a stronger sense of fulfillment.

2019 will be the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China and the key period of securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, in which judicial reform will play a significant role.

Zhou stressed the importance of continuously deepening reform and opening-up and required that courts should continue to promote judicial reform in an all-round way and work on guidance documents for another round of judicial reform in the new era.

He said courts should make efforts to upgrade the litigation service center and to build smart courts that can offer better judicial assistance with advanced technology to promote a modern trial system and build adjudication capacity.

Innovations were also encouraged at the meeting. Zhou explained that courts at various levels should pioneer improvements to the judicial system.